Frank Marini has been named vice president of sales at Collette Vacations. He will oversee more than 100 members of the company’s internal sales team. Most recently, Marini was president of Contiki Holidays, based in California. Previously, he had held various positions at Collette, including district sales manager, international sales manager and regional sales manager. He has a B.S. in political science and theater from the University of Rhode Island.
PBN: Your 14-year career in the travel industry unofficially started in the mailroom of Collette while you were attending Lincoln High School. From there you’ve moved through the ranks How has Collette Vacations helped develop your dedication?
FRANK MARINI: Collette is an inspiring, motivating and innovative company, always evolving and encouraging employees to challenge the norm. It starts right at the top, from Dan Sullivan Jr., our CEO. It’s the leadership that makes Collette a place where people love to work. We’re also very family-oriented – we have many events and benefits for the staff and their families. One event that was very inspiring to me occurred in January when Collette reserved the [Bank of America City Center] ice rink and had it catered. Many employees were able to attend with their families, and we all enjoyed an evening of skating, eating, drinking hot cocoa and bonding. It was amazing!
PBN: What could other companies do to emulate that kind of employee-employer success?
MARINI: I believe companies should communicate on a regular basis with their staff and ask them for their opinions. Many businesses promise a two-way relationship between employers and employees, but few follow through on an ongoing basis.
Communication is the key to success and dedication from employees. Asking for the opinions of staff members and keeping them updated on overall strategy, direction and vision – all on a regular basis – can change the culture of an entire company for the better.
PBN: What future plans do you have in your new position?
MARINI: I look forward to working with our team to enhance our customers’ experience. We are currently launching a “secret shopping campaign,” which is essentially a blind study designed to experience and evaluate our sales service from the customer’s perspective.
We’re constantly seeking ways to improve. Collette spends more than 10,000 hours annually on quality control for our more than 150 vacations. The same dedication is applied to the sales team. We are the first interaction with the customer before they even experience their vacation. It’s a challenge, but it’s one we overcome by working together as a team. •
